Power door locks on cars became popular in the 1950s, and today, almost every modern vehicle comes equipped with the feature. It’s convenient to be able to lock and unlock every door simultaneously with a key fob or internal control, but it’s also a crucial safety component. Power door locks prevent kids from opening a back door when the car’s moving.  They also help keep travelers secure from outside intruders, especially when drivers are traveling alone. Unfortunately, though, when your power locks fail, this often leads to a vehicle lockout, or the doors are not all being secured.  To avoid this scenario, you’ll need to look out for signs that a lock is failing before it stops working entirely. 

How to Detect Problems With Your Power Lock

A lock that’s failing might unlock at random or work intermittently. When this happens, there’s probably an issue with the wiring.

When you unlock your doors, it’s normal to will hear the mechanism click quietly. If you hear a loud squeal or prolonged buzzing, the lock motor and gears could be failing. 

What to Do When There’s a Complete Breakdown

If your power door locks no longer work at all, their actuators have most likely failed. If this happens, call a locksmith to inspect your doors and restore function. Even if you can still use the key to manually open the locks, this is inconvenient and could leave your vehicle exposed to thieves if every door does not get locked. It’s also common to have vehicle lockouts when your power locks don’t work reliably, because the locks inadvertently may automatically lock.

If you’re stuck outside your vehicle or need to repair your power lock, Columbia Lock and Safe will help. They provide 24-hour mobile locksmith services, including installations, roadside lockout services, and key replacements throughout Columbia, MO. Call (573) 443-5397 today to schedule an appointment—if you’re a student, senior, or veteran, ask about their discounted rates. You can also visit them online to learn more about their lockout services.